FEEDER and bomb work isn’t all about casting to the moon. Many venues respond well to 15m-25m casts, just beyond pole range.
On these, a rod-and-line combo still has its place in adverse conditions or for anglers who don’t own a pole. You want a shortish rod capable of a strong, positive cast.
Tips will need to be soft, to register the shyest of bites while offering minimal resistance.
You can use bigger reels than those for use with a waggler, but aim for the 4000 size, smaller if possible. No matter what your budget or target species, you should be able to find an ideal rod and reel combo here...
Rods
GURU N-GAUGE 9FT AND 10FT FEEDER RODS
What they say: Soft-actioned rods designed for short casts and accuracy when fishing to islands. Light and thin blanks are fitted out with quality super lightweight guides, positioned for optimum casting and fish-playing performance.
What we say: A soft tippy action that quickly powers up – ideal for mixed bags of fish large and small. The nine-footer is ideal for casting to far banks on snake lakes, while the 10ft version lends itself to more open water venues and 20m-30m casts.
Tips supplied: 0.75oz, 1oz, 1.5oz (9ft), 1oz, 1.5oz, 2oz carbon (10ft)
Price: 9ft £109.99, 10ft £129.99, www.tackleguru.com
MIDDY BOMBPROOF 9FT FEEDER
What they say: An entry-level rod with quality enough to deserve the Middy name. Lined guides and a screw-up reel seat are features not frequently found on rods within this price range.
What we say: Owing to its soft nature and the shorter ranges it’s designed to be fished at, even seasoned anglers will happily fish with one of these.
Tips supplied: 1oz, 2oz
Price: £29.99, www.middytackle.com
PRESTON INNOVATIONS SUPERA SL RODS
What they say: These two SL (super light) rods have been included specifically for shorter-range fishing with smaller hooks for bream and roach. Soft, seamless action keeps hook-pulls to a minimum. Both have SEA guides, quality carbon tips, a comfortable and ergonomic flat handle and a hook keeper ring.
What we say: Two beautiful rods – the 11ft is more of a super-soft skimmer rod that virtually folds over when a decent fish is hooked, while the 10ft, although also mega-soft, has a slightly more parabolic action –a great winter commercial rod for use with small feeders or a straight lead approach for F1s and carp. Both can be used up to 30m.
Tips supplied: 0.5oz, 0.75oz, 1oz carbon
Price: 10ft £143.99, 11ft £149.99, www.prestoninnovations.com
MAP DUAL 11FT FEEDER
What they say: A true all-round high modulus carbon rod with premium guides and a hook keeper ring. Supplied with two neoprene wraps for storage.
What we say: This rod is a joy to play fish on – great for smaller feeders and winter bomb fishing at a multitude of ranges. You’re getting good quality at a reasonable price.
Tips supplied: Carbon 0.5oz, 1oz, 1.5oz
Price: £134.99, www.mapfishing.co.uk
DAIWA N’ZON S 10FT
What they say: The S range resets the bar for mid-range feeder rods. High volume fibre blanks are furnished with LS ceramic rings, a DPS screw-down reel seat and a contoured cork and EVA handle.
What we say: You’ll struggle to find a better rod for less than £100. Soft natured, with a lightning-fast recovery, this will happily cope with short-range casts with small leads and feeders, or casts of over 30m if required, with payloads to 40g.
Tips supplied: 1oz, 1.5oz carbon
Price: £90, www.daiwasports.co.uk
DAIWA 11FT SLR
What they say: Reduced twist and greater energy transfer through the blank means even greater casting potential and accuracy. Lighter guides with a tweaked arrangement on the tip improve recovery on what was already a very fast rod.
Remaining is the outstanding Fuji VSS reel seat, mounted into a Duplon grip which is perfectly blended into a contoured cork handle.
What we say: The 11ft SLR is a great all-round short-range rod, soft enough for close-range work yet with power in reserve for bigger chucks. Now even lighter for 2021.
Tips supplied: 1.5oz, 2oz, 2.5oz carbon
Price: £490, www.daiwasports.co.uk
PRESTON MONSTER X WANDZEE
What they say: This one-piece 7ft tip rod is perfect for ultra short-range work such as underarming a Method feeder or casting overhead to far banks or islands 10m-20m away.
What we say: No better rod for fishing at the range where others would use a pole. Ideal for bomb or feeder work from under the tip to 25m or more.
Tips supplied: 0.75oz, 1oz, 1.5oz
Price: £84.99, www.prestoninnovations.com
Reels
MIDDY GFD
What they say: A lightweight, compact reel for commercial carp. A spare Smooth Cast alloy machined spool with mono-friendly line clip is a great feature.
What we say: Ideal all-round reels, a perfect match for any of Middy’s Bombproof, Battlezone or 5g rods, these perform exceptionally well for the price. In 3000 and 4000 sizes.
Price: Pay around £40-£50, www.middytackle.com
PRESTON INNOVATIONS CENTRIS
What they say: Developed over two years, the Centris is a compact and powerful reel for all float and general feeder work. You get a push button quick-release spool, a flexible NiTi bail-arm and a dual line clip.
What we say: A unique design with a central worm drive offers exceptional power alongside a significant reduction in size and weight. Even the biggest 520 size isn’t too bulky for smaller bomb rods, while the smaller 320 and 420 are a marriage made in heaven when teamed up with 9ft to 11ft rods.
Price: £154.99-£164.99, www.prestoninnovations.com
What they say: A graphite body and Air Rotor save on weight, while winding smoothness is via four ball-bearings and an infinite anti-reverse. In five sizes from 1500 to 4000. LT (light and tough) versions are also available, as are Match and Feeder versions with shallow spools.
What we say: Top performance and a very reasonable price tag has seen even seasoned match professionals snap these up. The gearing is a great compromise between speed and power. Look to the 3000 for light feeder and bomb work.
Price: £62.99-£74.99, www.daiwasports.co.uk
